Debra Lampshire


Debra Lampshire is a trainer, educator, advocate and experience-based expert on mental health.

Work

Lampshire is project manager for the Psychological Interventions for Enduring Mental Illness Project at the Auckland District Health Board. She is the first non-clinician to hold this position.
She is also a senior tutor with the Centre for Mental Health Research and Policy Development at the University of Auckland.
She is chairperson for International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis New Zealand.

Background

At the age of 17, she was committed to the former Kingseat Psychiatric Hospital in Karaka, having episodes of psychosis, including hearing voices. She has been in mental health care for 30 years, 18 of those in institutional care. She then began to take charge of her own recovery and has transferred her own experience to educate others.
She has co-authored scientific papers and co-edited the book Experiencing Psychosis.

Awards